"I have friends for you, Carl." Julian greeted Carl and Miku's appearance with his words.
Carl was still in a daze from the teleportation. So, he didn't respond right away, instead recovered his body first. Only then did he turn to find Darren and Irvin sitting on the ground.
"The first experience is always not good." Vega smiled awkwardly at him as a questioning gaze fell on her.
He nodded in understanding. It must be about teleportation. Apparently, Vega cast magic on the pouch so that it became a teleportation medium.
Wait. That meant Carl would see more.
"You brought my burger?" asked Julian, without taking his eyes off the screen.
Carl walked over to him to hand over the package.
Julian took one. Likewise Vega.
"The rest is for you and your friends."
Four left. It fitted them. Carl, Miku, Darren, and Irvin.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he handed Darren a burger.
Darren looked up with a frown at seeing him. It felt like his stomach was not ready to digest the food. However, he still accepted it. "Thanks." Wrinkles still appeared on his forehead.
Carl approached Irvin and gave him a burger. He also received a similar expression. "I don't like teleportation either," he commented after Irvin thanked him.
"You'll get used to it. I promise." Julian chimed in and took a bite of his burger.
Carl went back to him to watch the screen. "The roots have disappeared?" he asked as he saw no roots all over the screens. But, the rain was still there.
"Yes. It would disappear once someone gets the pouch. But it might appear elsewhere for another pouch."
"Then, no one has gotten it in the rain yet."
"Unfortunately, yes. That's why it's still raining."
"But they can move because no more roots get in their way."
"You're right. But it's no fun when there's only one obstacle."
Just as he finished saying that, there were loud footsteps. Then, a giant spider appeared out of nowhere. It instantly brought fear to the students' faces. They immediately ran away from it.
Carl looked at that in amazement. He saluted the teachers' skills in creating all the obstacles. "How do you do that from here?" Questions escaped his lips.
"It's called ranged magic. I used the screen to confirm the position," Vega replied.
"How?"
"So I must be familiar with the area, so I know where to direct my magic."
Carl didn't reply, but he understood what she said. And it amazed him at how great companion magic was.
"Oh, I heard you paired up with them in Raphael's class." Julian suddenly changed the subject. Of course, he meant Darren and Irvin.
How did he know?
All the rumors about Carl and Miku spread fast. They really stole the show for this year.
"Yes."
"How about you practice in front of me? I want to see it."
Carl glanced at his partner. "I don't think it's the right time."
Julian followed his lead and realized his words. He must have been so excited that he forgot his students still needed time to recover from teleportation. It might take a day for the first experience.
He sighed, disappointed that his wish couldn't come true. "That's too bad. We had a lot of time waiting for them, though."
"Don't overdo it, Julian. They're still in the first year." Vega reminded him.
"I know. I know."
He then turned his attention back to the screens while enjoying his burger, as if it were an exciting movie. "How many do you think passed this task?"
--
At precisely four in the afternoon, the search ended. It got half of the students to succeed in their mission.
Vega saved the entire screen after treating the student. While students sit tired after a long game.
"That's not bad for the first task." Julian stood at the front, starting his speech. "Seventeen students did well. Not bad," he continued.
"What do you think about the mission?" Vega asked.
"That was difficult, prof. It was also dangerous." A student answered.
"Right. We got hurt by it." Another student chimed in.
Julian smiled, amused at that. Actually, it was merely scratch like Carl and Darren had. He deliberately created the obstacles that way. There couldn't be any serious injuries. "How can you survive an actual attack if you protested for this?"
Students fell silent.
"That wasn't even close to an actual fight." He continued.
Students were still silent.
He let out a heavy sigh. "I don't like when you rely on Miku so much. I could see how you looked at her. This wasn't a joint mission. It was yours."
Students lowered their heads. They seemed to have been caught doing something wrong.
"But I appreciate your efforts. I shouldn't expect your cooperation to improve in a day. But, it showed improvement. Congratulations." Julian decided not to prolong his tirade any longer. After all, it did not differ from the previous day.
"The next task will be more difficult than this. So, prepare yourself. Practice hard to increase your cooperation, not just raise your level. High level doesn't mean if you don't have good cooperation."
"Yes, sir." Students answered loudly.
"Class is over. You can go home now." Julian was about to turn around but stopped it. "Don't forget to keep practicing," he added. Then, he and Vega walked out of place.
"It's a coupon," said Gerrard, one of the students who succeeded.
"What coupon?" asked Eza, his companion.
"Food coupons in the cafeteria. For us."
"Oh, it's just food coupons," Jacob replied disdainfully. He was a failed student. "I can buy food without completing the task," he said again.
Daphne, sitting next to him, chuckled, and it sparked his anger.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Everyone knows it's not about the coupons or the rewards of this mission," she replied casually. She didn't even look at him.
Jacob looked around. He felt his friends looking down on him. "You challenge me?" Instead of being silent, he allowed his emotions to overwhelm him. "Not because you're a girl so that I'll succumb to you."
Daphne looked at him dramatically. "No. I'm just speaking the truth. Why should you be mad about it?" She said innocently but sarcastically at the same time.
Jacob clenched his fists. He felt humiliated. "You!" he growled.
Suddenly, Carl got up and said, "Let's go home, Miku!" He purposely raised his voice to attract attention and lower the tension.
"How about using teleportation again?" Miku asked after getting up and standing beside him.
"No. Enough for today. I can't take it anymore."